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Carlsbad business news: VIP Storage breaks ground on 43 units

By Stella Davissdavis@currentargus.com

Posted:
03/05/2013 10:26:12 AM MST

Living in the desert has its advantages, such warmer weather and plenty of sunshine. On the negative side, especially in Carlsbad, is the blowing dust caused by high winds this time of year. So items in one of Carlsbad's many storage facility units will often require some dusting off after checking them out.

This past Saturday, VIP Self Storage at 4615 National Parks Highway, broke ground for a new 8,250 square-foot building that will offer 43 large dust control units.

VIP Storage owners Bill and Jo-Ann Vandergriff said they currently have two buildings that are dust controlled units and they are completely full.
Bill Vandergriff said each of the new storage units will have insulation in the ceiling and walls to control the penetration of dust when the wind is blowing at 70 mph.

He said the new storage facility is expected to be completed by May 1. The units will 10 feet by 20 feet and 10 feet by 25 feet. Although construction is just starting, Vandergriff said there is already a waiting list.

For more information Vandergriff can be contacted at 575-887-1000.

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The annual March for Parks is just around the corner and this year, Chili's Restaurant Bar and Grill in Carlsbad is one of the sponsors. March for Parks, a fundraiser by agencies such as Carlsbad Caverns and Guadalupe Mountains National Parks, Lincoln National Forest and Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park, will be held on March 19.

On the day of the event, Chili's will donate 10 percent of the total sales to March for Parks.

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But the public has to do its part by obtaining a coupon, eating a meal at the restaurant or ordering take-out and giving the coupon to the server at the time of payment. The server will note that the coupon was received and March for Parks will be credited.

So where do you get the coupon? Go to http://www.facebook.com/MarchForParksCarlsbadNM.

Avelina Childress, a Carlsbad Caverns National Park employee and a long-time March for Parks organizer, said this year's proceeds will be used to rehabilitate the Happy Valley Park.

For more information contact Childress at 575-785-3124 or Helen Fields at 575-785-3127.

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Kudos go out to CARC Inc. For the seventh consecutive year, CARC has received accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, an international accrediting commission.

CARC Inc. serves adults with developmental disabilities and children from birth to three years old who have or are at risk of having developmental delays.
In its review of CARC's strengths, the commission said the non-profit organization has a "long and proud history of exceptional services to children, adults and families."

CARC provides numerous services to its clients that include community employment services, job development and employment support.

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Last week, Rep. Steve Pearce, R-NM, formally invited Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke to come to New Mexico to hear from New Mexicans on inflation and the economy. Pearce, a former Hobbs businessman, says Bernanke needs to see first hand the impact of the fed's monetary actions.
Pearce apparently issued the invite verbally during a hearing of the House Committee on Financial Services. Pearce's office followed up on the invitation with a formal letter to Bernanke.

No word yet if Bernanke accepted the invitation, but we hope if he does come, he will come to our corner of the state. We will let our readers know as soon as we hear from Pearce's office if the invitation has been accepted.

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Speaking about the fed's handling of budgets and finances; the impact of sequestration is not only going to hit government employees in their pocketbooks and the budgets of agencies they work for.

It will trickle down to all of us.

There has been some concern in the community over the impact of sequestration on the U.S. Department of Energy's Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, a nuclear waste repository located 27 miles east of the city.

A DOE spokesperson said WIPP has sufficient funding to continue to meet its cleanup mission and there are no planned furloughs at this time.